Saturday night at the United Center, before a soldout crowd of 21,841, the Bulls barely escaped the upset ax when they nipped the Toronto Raptors in overtime, 102-101.
The following morning, it was Bulls power forward Joakim Noah who barely escaped the wrath of an NBA suspension.
With 1:28 left to play before halftime and his team trailing 52-50, Noah was whistled for a foul on a driving Andrea Bargnani. The 6-foot-11, 232-pound Bull did not like the call. He argued vehemently and in a fit of passioned rage Noah threw the basketball in the direction of the referee.
Noah's implosion resulted in two technical fouls and a quick ejection. He left the game with 2 points and 2 rebounds and his absence down the paint allowed the Raptors to control the boards 58-44.
Earlier this season, superstar guard Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics was suspended for two games by the NBA for throwing a ball hard at an official and dishing some verbal abuse on the side. Speculation was rampant that Noah might sit out a game or two as the NBA frowns on player confrontations against its officiating officials.
But on Sunday, the day of prayer, Noah found something to be thankful for. The NBA will not suspend him.
"I just want to apologize to the referee. I was wrong. I was frustrated after the call and I overeacted," he told the Chicago Tribune.
Amen.
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